The Vital Forest Fan Interview: Redmoose

Q - How long have you been following Forest and what was your first game?

I`ve been watching them for 31 years. My first game was as a 6 year old against Grasshopper Zurich in the European Cup. We won 4-1 and the atmosphere shook the ground - or so it felt as a 6 year old!! I completely fell in love with Football and Forest from that moment.

Q - What are your most memorable moments as a Forest fan? Good and Bad.

As posted by others, there`s so many to choose from! The Wembley years - seeing Wembley Way basked in red was an awesome sight! I do feel privileged to have attended an FA Cup Final even though we lost - darn that Milford bloke who bottled sending Gazza off! Other good times include Forest`s 7-0 demolition of Chelsea (we can dream of that happening again one day!), the 4-0 semi-final victory over West Ham at Villa Park, Des Walker`s only goal for Forest (own goals aside of course) and the mini-resurgence under Frank Clark that saw us back in Europe. Bad times - Brian Clough leaving and passing away - there will never be another legend like him - even Billy Davies and his mouth won`t compete! Relegation and the infamous Yeovil home tie! Appointing Gary Megson and the David Platt era stick in the memory too!

Oh how can I forget the season where we came from 2-0 behind to win 3-2 against both Man Utd (Strachan having scored twice and gloated in front of the Trent End!) and West Ham. Both courtesy of Metgod power-blasters, one of which had Phil Parkes on his knees! Oh the glory days! I`ll stop there cos I can go on forever!

Q - Since you have been following Forest, what would your best eleven be? And who is your all time favorite player? I propose a reserve team too as it`s too difficult!

GK - Peter Shilton (Hans Van Breuklan)

RB - Viv Anderson (Steve Chettle)

CB - Des Walker (Kenny Burns)

CB - Larry Lloyd (Michael Dawson)

LB - Stuart Pearce (Stuart Pearce - no competition here!)

RM - Martin O`Neil (Steve Stone)

CM - Roy Keane (Paul McKenna)

CM - John McGovern (Steve Hodge)

LM - John Robertson (Brian Rice - only kidding! Ian Woan)

CF - Trevor Francis (Nigel Clough)

CF - Stan Collymore (Teddy Sheringham)

My favourite all time player is the one and only Sir Stuart Pearce.

Q - In your opinion, what is the best goal you have seen Forest score?

Stuart Pearce`s free-kick against Man Utd at Old Trafford in 1991 the season following his penalty miss in Italia 90. The Stretford End were in a chorus of "Who missed in Italy, Stuart Pearce, Stuart Pearce" when Sir Psycho rifled a bullet into the top corner. I will never forget the silence that followed as Peter Scheimcal clawed helplessly at thin air!! I salute you once again Mr. Pearce! We won 1-0!

Q - Best and worst away ground visited?

Best: City Ground and Wembley (our adopted second home)

Worst: Either Gresty Road or Doncaster`s old stadium, Belle Vue.

Q - What are your thoughts on the proposed new stadium?

I`m 50/50 split on this. I worry about the financial impact on the club. Can we realistically sustain 40k crowds? And I`d miss the City Ground soooo badly. As long as we don`t do a Portsmouth (running before we can walk) it can be a good thing plus the thought of hosting the World Cup has to be a bonus. Maybe the Acquisitions Panel can oversee the construction - but then again we need it before 2018!!

Q- Which player(s) would you like to see us sign this summer(realistically)?

Good. I was at Hillsborough. Although the best atmosphere anywhere was the old Trent End which has been lost a bit since the all-seater rule. A-Block do their best though!

Q - What are your thoughts on how Forest did last season and how did it compare to your expectations?

Exceeded all my expectations. What a contrast - the football was just fantastic to watch at times too. I just wanted to finish mid-table and above Derby (you`d fulfill both by finishing mid-table anyway!). Top finish 3rd was a great effort by the boys and BD.

Q - What are your expectations for next season in the Championship?

The ambition of all involved seems to remain and there`s no talk of a mass exodus after failing to reach the Promised Land so I expect automatic promotion. The players have stated their ambitions on numerous occasions and now need to move onto that next level.

Q - What League position will Forest occupy at the end of the 2010/11 season?

1st or 2nd. Just don`t put us through the play-off again please!

Q - What's your opinion of Billy Davies and what he's done at NFFC, since his arrival?

A complete breath of fresh air. He`s justifiably confident and his tactics have been more or less spot on since he took the post. How he plays to the media can be frustrating but in the main he is exactly what we`ve missed. I have to apologise to him as well. I was one of the doubters at first but thank you for proving me wrong Billy!

Q- Acquisitions Panel. Good thing or bad?

Good to ensure sensible management of funds. However the inactivity in January (Oh God I sound like BD!) was frustrating. It`s a familiar tale though so why doesn`t BD/panel earmark/discuss targets a month or so earlier - it`s not as if the window is a complete surprise to us! Nigel Doughty has been an unsung hero for me and I`d hate to imagine what could`ve happened if he carried on like he did with David Platt!

Q - Where do you sit/stand at the City Ground?

Trent End - still trying to hold onto the atmosphere and glory days of old!

Q - Name the celebrity you would most like to bang.

Cheryl Cole or Courtney Cox (or both!!)

Come on you Tricky Trees!

Thanks to Redmoose for taking the time to answer the questions. If you would like to take part in the Fan Interviews, you can find a copy of the questions HERE. Just email the answers to forest@vitalfootball.co.uk